Petros
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone: (310) 545-4100
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Highland Avenue
- Hours:
- Sun-Thu 11am-3:30pm, 5:30pm-11:00, Fri-Sat 11am-3:30pm, 5:30pm-12am
Editorial Review for Petros – by Martha Burr
The Scene
This elegant space is light and airy, with clean, white walls and arches, glass patio doors, cream-toned linens and cushioned birch banquettes and chairs. Situated in the post-modern Metlox mall, the sprawling outdoor patio accommodates a sophisticated Manhattan Beach crowd chatting over contemporary bouzouki music and wine.
The Food
The menu balances classic Greek cuisine with dynamic Mediterranean ingredients and haute stylings that hit the mark perfectly every time. The combo-dip appetizer is a medley of brilliantly contrasting flavors and textures, from a cool, creamy cucumber yogurt to rich olivada paste, a spicy Greek kafteri cheese, and pure, high notes of lemon and yellow split-pea puree. Feta-crusted rack of lamb is utterly tender, deeply flavorful with just enough kick from the cheese and herbs. Another standout is Greek sea bass, with perfectly crisped skin and delicate flavor. Elegant desserts include baklava, baby donuts and a dreamy, light millefeuille of filo layered with chocolate mousse and vanilla ice cream.
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Insider Tips
Where to SitThere are really no bad seat locations in the restaurant, but beware of a couple tables in the middle with rock-hard chairs. For larger groups, request the banquettes against the back wall, which afford a bit of privacy.
What to DrinkAn extensive wine list offers hard-to-find Greek labels from smaller vineyards on the Aegean Island of Santorini and Lesvos.
Look GoodBefore dinner, explore the mall's surrounding shops for candles, clothes and jewelry. Afterward, pop into neighboring Shade hotel to soak up the lobby lounge scene.
User Reviews for Petros
06/15/2008 Posted by Parthe
We went to Petros for a Sunday brunch celebration and the service was slow and inconsiderate. We had 11 people in our party. The staff was very inattentive. Just getting the waitress to our table was a chore; we'd get her attention and she'd say she'd be right there, but then she'd disappear and not show up again for 15 minutes. Whenever the waitress did come over, she would apologize and say they were really busy, but the place was less than three-quarters full. It took 20 minutes to get silverware and menus, then 20 minutes to get water for everyone at the table, and they didn't have enough menus for all of us so we had to share. The food was ok but not worth the long wait; we've had better-tasting food at Greek restaurants in LA. After waiting 30 minutes for our drinks to be refilled, one of us got fed up and started walking around looking for a pitcher of water. We had to ask numerous times for everything; we had planned on ordering more food and champagne but after waiting so long for service, we decided to just pay the $500 check and leave. And as we were leaving, Petros stood facing our table and just put his head down as we were walking by him without saying a word; I don't know what that was about. When I got home, I looked at the check again and saw that even though they claim to add only an 18% gratuity, the one they added was more than 20%. Not cool, especially given the service we got. I couldn't tell if the restaurant was understaffed or if the staff was just woefully inefficient. Most of the people at our table were around 30 and my boyfriend thinks that they didn't see any point in treating us well because they didn't think we'd be repeat customers. After that kind of service, we'll be sure to take our business elsewhere.
Pros: Near the beach
Cons: Slow service, inattentive staff
05/16/2008 Posted by Aldenkitty52
After dining all over L.A., I thought I had eaten some of the best lamb at The Little Door, but I was wrong. Anyone dining at Petro's must try the lamb with the baked feta on top. Absolutely delicous. Great atmosphere!
